CEDAC in partnership with UNDP and WORLD VISION INTERNATIONAL has been working for nearly a year on the project: Strengthening Community Resilience through Promoting Employment for Youth at Risk (Japan Project ) in the Nyakabiga, Gihosha, Buterere Zones in the Bujumbura city . These areas are reported to have been violent protests after the CNDD-FDD party introduced President Pierre NKURUNZIZA as a candidate for the 2015 elections, a third term that some judges illegal and others legal according to their political affiliations.This project intervenes to contribute to the consolidation of peace and social cohesion by supporting young people affected by the crisis for their reintegration into the economic and social life, 308 young people from the areas hit by the current crisis are accessing employment through the improvement of community infrastructures and implement small income-generating initiatives with community interests. At least 308 temporary job opportunities are created for young people affected by the current crisis with at least 50% of jobs created for girls. This project mobilizes young people affected by the current financial crisis (50% girls) in their savings group / IGA and their communities for their participation in social cohesion activitiesThe beneficiaries of project receive training on income-generating activities, the elaboration of business plans and the design and implementation of a micro project, support for their income-generating initiatives and monitoring of the group's performance. Savings and loans, facilitating the connection between

January, 23-24 /2017 CEDAC has organized a mixed dialogue session in Mutaho commune, Gitega province as part of the monitoring and evaluation of the sustainability of the BUMBATIRA-AMAHORO project. This session saw the participation of all beneficiaries of Mutaho commune and was particularly focused on: The peaceful resolution of the conflict, the AVBs and Political tolerance. Many testimonies were heard by different beneficiaries :

The Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) is an international organization created in September 1976 for economic integration and facilitating the movement of goods and people between different countries in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa, whose Burundi, Zaire - now the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - and Rwanda.

It is headquartered in Gisenyi in Rwanda and Goma in the DRC (the other side of Lake Kivu).

CEPGL has in her breast The Youth Council of the Economic Community of the Great lakes (CJ / CEPGL) is an integrative structure of the youth from Burundi , the DRC and Rwanda.

It is in this context of CJ / CEPGL that takes place in Gisenyi / Rwanda Youth Forum for the development of a 2015-2020 action plan , review of the Internal Rules and Regulations also peace culture promotion in the Great Lakes Region .

CEDAC was represented by Ms. Melissa Iteka.

Participants shared the information for the role of youth on peace building in their own countries. According to the organizers of the forum, the youth council of the great lakes countries had get the opportunity to make difference between political manipulation and community conflict which tearing seriously the region for decades .

The forum ended with the election of the new comity of the youth council of CEPGL, the secretary of the youth council have given to Burundi and CEDAC’s represent was elected Executive Secretary of the youth council.

The implementation of the Project “Bumbatira Amahoro” continues amongst tensions in Burundi. Beneficiaries have now received training in the SILC (Saving and Internal Lending Community) methodology (where groups pool weekly savings and take loans with low interest rates). In Ngozi commune’s weekly meeting on the 20th August 2015 the discussion focused on what people foresaw doing with the funds that would be available to them for lending. A number of ideas came up most of them focusing on sales or small local businesses. Guided by the animator the discussion included; making sure goals are realistic given the small amount that each person is able to receive to start with, thinking strategically in regards of what is needed in the community, who will use the service, if someone else is doing it already and once the small business is set up how to attract customers. Ethics were also discussed and the need for the group as youth leaders in the community to lead by example (the selling of cigarettes was thus not encouraged).

Under the patronage of His Excellency the Ombudsman of the Republic of Burundi, CEDAC in partnership with AOAV officially launch project "Engaging of youth leaders to prevent conflict in Burundi" Friday, April 10, 2015. Royal Palace Hotel Bujumbura

In his s welcoming speech the Founder & President of the training Centre for Development of Ex-Combatants (CEDAC acronym) made a brief description of the organization to partners, various guests and participants. Founded in 2005 to support the ex-combatants and other victims of armed violence to reintegrate into communities, CEDAC is a non-profit, apolitical organization.

He added that the project launched officially goes into the vast program of reduction of the armed violence started by CEDAC since its creation in 2005.. Awareness campaigns in the fight against small arms were held by the organization itself with collecting a sufficient number of weapons and munitions and this in partnership with the National Commission civil disarmament and UNDP.

Violent acts committed by political party youth groups threaten the holding of peaceful elections in 2015. CEDAC and Action on Armed Violence AOAV under support of US Departement of State propose to work with 1,800 political party youth leaders and ex-combatants in 20 communes , in BUJUMBURA MAIRIE ,BUJUMBURA RURAL , BUBANZA , NGOZI and GITEGA that are hotspots of violence or were in 2010, in order to reduce their willingness to commit violence.

Ex-combatants were involved in the spreading of violence in 2010 and are particularly at-risk of manipulation, and will therefore receive particular attention. Using a holistic approach combining social and economic aspects, the project builds relationships and trust, teaches tools for conflict resolution, and creates spaces for dialogue and mediation of conflict, while also targeting the root causes of vulnerability and conflict by helping youth start income-generating activities (IGAs).

Victim Assistance

Our vision

CEDAC vision is a peaceful and sustainable developed world. Some of the organisation's members have directly participated in armed conflict, while others have been victims of conflict through their indirect participation. CEDAC wants to interlink all victims of conflict within and across borders. Our vision seeks to eliminate conflict and sustain peace by creating means of reintegration for ex-combatants and others indirectly affected by conflict.

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Our mission

Our mission is to support all victims of armed conflict. We seek to reduce armed violence through job creation, as well as offering other types of victim assistance such as psychosocial support to facilitate reintegration into society.

Our Staff

Ex-combatants

CEDAC runs initiatives to redress the lack of projects aimed at female ex-combatants. Read more

CEDAC values

At CEDAC, we hold our values of transparency, tolerance and honesty in the highest regard, because without these values we would not be able to survive as a not-for profit aid organisation. For example, without transparency our finical supporters, those involved in our projects and other stakeholders would not be able to hold us accountable. This in turn leads to an environment of mistrust.

It goes without saying that we uphold and value honesty at CEDAC. We believe that acting openly and honesty is not only good practice, but is essential for working in development and aid.

CEDAC is built also under a tolerance basis. This implies a high degree of acceptance for differences of races and ethnicity, background and diversity of ideas. Thus, CEDAC is an environment where contribution is reserved for everyone.

Founder biography

My name is Eric Niragira. I am a Burundian from Kiganda Commune in Muramvya Province. Readmore...